How Do You Miss Something This Big? Old Age?

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Was out in the other garage today putzing around with the tractor and doing some general housekeeping. Spied a nice double-walled cardboard box I'd saved, sitting atop a crate. Perfect for a R-390 cabinet that needs to be shipped. Walked over to grab ahold of it planning to one-hand it back to the house. Nearly fell over and the box didn't budge. Looked at the side and it all came back to me. It's not like I forgot per say, because I've referenced this unit a few times in the recent past. But this is the first time it's seen the light of day since packing it up in 2008 for the move. A bit of a story behind it too, which some of the gang will remember and were even part of.

Sorta like Christmas in...September?  The older I get, the more each day seems like an Easter Egg hunt.

[KA0HCP]

There's a smudge on the upper right faceplate.  Unit looks unsalvageable. 

[KA8WTK]

Ya just gotts to love black wrinkle paint.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Nothing quite like it Bill. Sputtered to myself a bit last night for having left this baby boxed up for 2 years, apparently thinking it was already in here somewhere or still up north. Wife said to be thankful it wasn't a kid I'd left somewhere. Dynamotor is still up north and I need to get a few more connectors and mounts to finish it up, but at least the ol' girl is back in good company. Former owner had it on the air, so it's ready to go.

[W2PFY]

Way too nice looking ART-13  You need to send that old stuff to me

That must be the nicest looking one I ever saw.

[W3GMS]

Todd,
We probably tripped over it when we were down getting the JDK!  It sure is a nice clean one.  I have one here as well but need to build a P.S. for it.  My good friend Al, W2OBJ who just became a SK use to check into the AWA Sunday AM net with one each week before he got sick.  He used it with an amplified D-104 going in a stage or so and it sounded very good considering it was basically stock. 
Have fun with it and pair it up with a BC-312, 342 or a 348 for a neat looking pair of twins!
Regards,
Joe, W3GMS 

[w3jn]

I certainly remember that saga, Todd - glad you found it again and hope to hear it on the air soon!

[The Slab Bacon]

Izz it the memory that goes first, or the hair??  I forget..........................    

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

The knees go second, I can't remember what goes first....  

Yes Johnny, was quite a saga indeed. Far more involved than it needed to be! I should've just listened to you, accepted your offer and grabbed this thing at NEAR-Fest and saved myself 12 hours of driving. Of course, I got to visit my old friend Gary WZ1M and see his transformer shop as well as dropping off the broken mod transformer for the big rig, so it wasn't all for naught.

Joe, this one is actually the ATC, Navy version. I'll be pairing it with the RAX triplets. Photo below is from the PB4Y2 manual, posted on KC4TOS/Mike Hanz's most excellent AAFRadio page (under Flight Deck and The Triplets):

         http://aafradio.org/

Mike's site is, IMO, the best resource online for WWII aircraft gear. Second only to Mike himself for useful, accurate info in breadth and depth. Be prepared to spend a couple hours if you've never visited before.

Terry, you might've seen this actual transmitter at one of the last Hosstraders fests in Hopkinton or at the first two NEAR-Fests. A guy from northern Maine had it there for sale and I drooled over it each time I saw it. He'd been using it on the air but with minimal mods and had obviously taken good care of it. At the time I had 3 ART-13s, one that was hot rodded for AM and really hacked up and two untouched units, one complete with the LF oscillator. Decided to clear out the three for the move south and find one keeper. Sold the hacked/ambitious rebuild one at NEAR-Fest and the other two (coincidentally) to a fellow in southern Maine.

At the fall 2007 NEAR-Fest Johnny, Steve, Joe 'PJP and others walked by this transmitter a number of times trying to get me to make up my mind to buy it. Figured I was safe since I always bring too little money with me to buy anything big, but Johnny chimed in offering to make up the difference. Busted! I still resisted, but ended up driving to Maine a month later to get it. Glad to have it.

Still have one ART-13 sitting in storage at the home of a former girlfriend in Colorado. It's as clean as this one. We remain friends and I hear from her now and then, she still has it. Just gotta figure out how to get it here.

BTW, if anyone has any 5DY82AB2 dynamotors kicking around for the RAX receivers, I'm looking for 3. The CG-62028 Junction box too. Also need the mounting slides for the ATC. And a few connectors, and.....hope to have it on the air this winter!

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Make sure you only use that thing with the appropriate carbon mic!

[W2PFY]

Make sure you only use that thing with the appropriate carbon mic!

I have a T-17 mic that I will donate if interested.

[w1vtp]

Holy cow!!  That looks new.  How 'bout some shots of the inside.  I promise not to drool on my keyboard - NOT!

[KA2DZT]

Todd,

I can use the plate meter, if you're willing to part with it   Let me know.

Fred

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

I actually have some spares Fred, even a few NOS somewhere. Question is whether they made the trip down here yet. Pretty sure they did. I'll bring one to NEAR-Fest if you're planning to be there. Otherwise I could hand it off.

Al, I'll snap a couple shots sometime this weekend. IIRC, the inside shows more wear than the outside, and it's painted gray vs bare aluminium. Truly a purty sight.

[KA2DZT]

I actually have some spares Fred, even a few NOS somewhere. Question is whether they made the trip down here yet. Pretty sure they did. I'll bring one to NEAR-Fest if you're planning to be there. Otherwise I could hand it off.

Todd,

Great offer thanks,  I will not be at NEAR-Fest.  I use those plate meters in my xmtr.  I need one more to finish the 813 section of the xmtr.  I have a few extras but the face plates are faded and don't match very well to the other two that are already in the xfmr.  In fact, all I really need is a good looking face plate (Westinghouse).

Maybe, after you track them down,  you could just send me one.  No rush, just let know what you want for it.

Fred, KA2DZT

[Ralph W3GL]

    Todd,

    Rush that order for 52 watt Freddy (look, I promoted him by a watt!),
    he just might get that imaginary 813 final on the air in the next 5
    years...

    Hey, it's a good day for me to repair my sky wire so I just might reappear
    back on the air after a few months hiatus...

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Hope the aerial works out, Ralph. I caught up with Slab, 'ZRF, 'FJJ and Jay a couple weeks back on their 'net' down on 80 and they heard me well, so I'm guessing we'll have no trouble working. I hang out down below there, looking forward to catching up with you soon.

[KA2DZT]

    Todd,

    Rush that order for 52 watt Freddy (look, I promoted him by a watt!),
    he just might get that imaginary 813 final on the air in the next 5
    years...

    Hey, it's a good day for me to repair my sky wire so I just might reappear
    back on the air after a few months hiatus...

Ralph, I'm keeping an eye on you.

I do see all your wise crack remarks

Good day for antenna work, hope you have some success with it.  Wish I lived closer to your QTH, I could give you a hand with it.

Thanks for the extra watt,  I need all the help I can get.  Don't tell Frankie about it, he may want one too.

Fred

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Do you have your 3733 kHz crystal? Those guys are stuck on that frequency.

Hope the aerial works out, Ralph. I caught up with Slab, 'ZRF, 'FJJ and Jay a couple weeks back on their 'net' down on 80 and they heard me well, so I'm guessing we'll have no trouble working. I hang out down below there, looking forward to catching up with you soon.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

I just stopped by to say hello to see if they could hear me, and they could. So the marginal/temporary 80m aerial works to the north. Was hearing all of them well too, even Chuck with his whopping 25 watts. Was a week before Shelby I think.

Was thinking the ATC would make a good peanut whistle rig to replace the 32V until I can dig into that. Talking around here locally with you and the guys up in VA it would be just right.

Heading down there now to fire up the big rig and toss out a few CQs.

[w1vtp]

I actually have some spares Fred, even a few NOS somewhere. Question is whether they made the trip down here yet. Pretty sure they did. I'll bring one to NEAR-Fest if you're planning to be there. Otherwise I could hand it off.

Al, I'll snap a couple shots sometime this weekend. IIRC, the inside shows more wear than the outside, and it's painted gray vs bare aluminium. Truly a purty sight.

And to think I gave mine away   I've resolved NEVER to give anything of mine away.  Everything I've gotten rid of I've regretted.  That's why I have a project room with tons of storage.  I just have to get my non-ham radio stuff moved out so I can have even more room

See you at Near-Fest

Al

[Opcom]

I sold mine off a decade ago. A pity, but I knew I would never use it. It is probably on the air somewhere.

[WA1GFZ]

Todd,
Aren't you like 20 years younger than most of us??

[W9GT]

I didn't recognize the receivers in that shot of the PBY radio shack.  Anyone know what those are?  Todd mentioned RAX...guess I haven't seen any of those before. The ATC ART-13 sure looks nice.  Even noticed the BC-221 freq meter (Navy version) up on top.  Cool stuff!

73,  Jack, W9GT

[w1vtp]

    Todd,

    Rush that order for 52 watt Freddy (look, I promoted him by a watt!),
    he just might get that imaginary 813 final on the air in the next 5
    years...

    Hey, it's a good day for me to repair my sky wire so I just might reappear
    back on the air after a few months hiatus...

Good to work you the other day Ralph.  Don't be a stranger!!!